A Simple Kinda Life

Win a Panasonic Viera 37" LCD HDTV from AllAmericanDirect.com

2009-11-10T12:32:00.002-05:00

Right now, until November 30th, you can enter to win a Panasonic Viera 37" LCD HDTV from AllAmericanDirect.com!

Good luck!

Disclaimer: I was not sent anything nor did I make any money on sharing the word about this sweepstakes.

Unique Papercrafting E-Commerce site launches

2009-11-10T12:20:00.004-05:00

In this electronic age of instant messaging and e-cards, you may just be surprised that the sheer beauty and joy of creating and giving a unique handmade greeting card or scrapbook is not a thing of the past. In fact, with the help of a new e-commerce site, eWillow.com, the art of papercrafting might just experience a resurgence. eWillow.com is dedicated to selling handmade greeting cards, scrapbooks, and other papercrafts and has arrived just in time for World Card Making Day on October 3rd.

eWillow.com was the brainchild of former fashion industry model Charlene Harreveld. Charlene, a longtime crafter herself, began conceptualizing the site after becoming frustrated with the fact that there were limited outlets for crafters to sell their artwork, and seemingly none dedicated to those who make greeting cards and scrapbooks.

eWillow.com is unique not only because it brings the papercrafting community together in one convenient online location, but also because it is an e-commerce site where crafters can sell their papercrafted artwork like handmade cards, gifts, and scrapbooks via storefronts they create and maintain on eWillow’s site. There is one low monthly storefront fee and no sales commissions or posting/transaction fees are charged. The site is effortless to use for both crafters and customers looking to purchase unique handmade papercrafted products as gifts that provide that all-important ‘personal touch.’ The site also offers a useful search tool where consumers can search all storefronts at once when looking for a specific item.

Additionally, eWillow.com also encourages sellers and buyers to communicate with each other and share ideas, tips, inspirations, and more. Designers can swap ideas and post photos of creations through an online forum. Also, Charlene’s blog is for everyone to read and enjoy. eWillow.com can also be followed on Twitter and Facebook, both of which are updated regularly.

“I truly feel that the concept of this e-commerce site time has come. It was much needed for people in the papercrafting industry to be able to turn their passion and hobby into a money-making business endeavor with very little overhead and limitless selling potential,” said founder/CEO Charlene Harreveld.

eWillow.com's storefront Design Vendors seem to agree. “I was honored to be one of the first storefronts on eWillow.com. I appreciate the fact that there’s no other place on the Internet where papercrafters can sell their wares that is strictly for papercrafting. It is very evident a lot of careful and thoughtful planning went into the launch of eWillow.com. Thank you Charlene for coming up with this ingenious idea,” said Cindy Coutts, owner of Christian Paper Crafts, Paducah, Kentucky.

eWillow.com is headquartered in Jupiter, Florida. Visit www.eWillow.com.

Disclaimer: I was not sent anything nor did I make any money on posting about this site.

Land's End and The Big Warm-up

2009-11-10T12:14:00.000-05:00

Lands’ End has joined forces with the National Coalition for the Homeless for the Big Warm-up. The Big Warm-up provides an opportunity for people across the nation to donate a gently used coat that will then go on to warm one of more than 3.5 million homeless women, men and children in the United States right now – each facing a cold winter.

Beginning October 29 until November 30, Lands’ End is hosting Big Warm-up coat donation sites at its 252 Lands’ End Shops at Sears and 13 Lands’ End Inlets®. Donated coats will be distributed via the National Coalition for the Homeless in communities nearby. To further encourage donations, Lands’ End is giving 20 percent off the purchase of a new coat for each one donated.

Visit WWW.BIGWARMUP.COM to see how each coat can warm a heart, track donations, find donation sites, watch an inspiring video and spread the word.

"Jumpstart Your Holidays with Hallmark” Twitter Party

2009-11-10T11:59:00.002-05:00

If you’re feeling a little stressed out as the holidays get closer and could use a few tips on how to make this holiday season memorable for all the right reasons, let Hallmark’s experts help you get a few things checked off of your list early during Hallmark’s “Jumpstart Your Holidays with Hallmark” Twitter Party! Cozy up to your computer, bring your favorite warm beverage, and get ready to breathe a collective sigh of relief with fellow moms!

Join us on November 13th from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. CST to interact with Laurie Monsees (Editorial Creative Director), Megan Haave (Editorial Writer) and Maureen Dilger (Product Manager) of Hallmark Cards, who will be sharing tips on how you can connect in a more unique and personal level with your family and friends during the holidays. Laurie, Megan and Maureen will also take questions from the group on ways to help put your personal stamp on your holiday greetings. Don’t forget to use the #hallmarkmom hashtag! (And keep an eye on @ResourcefulMom, who will be helping Hallmark host the Party).

Hallmark wants to hear from you, too! Share those unforgettable holiday moments with us during the party, because let’s face it – memories are part of what make the holidays so special.

And what would a holiday celebration be without a few goodies? Hallmark will be giving away $100 worth of personalized holiday cards at Hallmark.com AND a one-hour consultation with a Hallmark “Card Concierge,” a Hallmark writer who will help you with any holiday card questions, to three moms who have the best holiday stories! Others who answer trivia questions will win $25 worth of personalized holiday cards at Hallmark.com they can send to friends and family.

Giveaway: Fiber One 50 calorie yogurt (50 winners)

2009-11-10T01:32:00.004-05:00

The First 50 Readers who click on the microsite (above) will get a coupon for a free 4-pack of Fiber One 50 calorie yogurt, available in Strawberry, Key Lime Pie, Peach and Vanilla.

This site will also provide you with:

·Useful weight management tips from best-selling author and food expert Lisa Lillien, a.k.a. Hungry Girl

·Additional product information about Fiber One yogurt

·A downloadable $1.00 off Fiber One yogurt coupon

About Yoplait Fiber One 50-calorie yogurt

·Yoplait Fiber One 50-calorie yogurt is the only leading nonfat yogurt with 50 calories and 5 grams of fiber.

·Available in four flavors – Strawberry, Vanilla, Peach and Key Lime Pie – Fiber One 50-calorie yogurt is a delicious snack that is good for you, contributes 20% of the recommended daily value of fiber and is a good source of calcium as well as vitamins A and D.

·Instead of munching on boring lower-calorie foods, you can now snack with zero guilt on Fiber One yogurt, a tasty way to help watch waistlines and keep calorie counts in check.

·Fiber One 50-calorie yogurt features a ‘Hungry Girl Seal of Approval’, the first nationally distributed yogurt to receive this endorsement.

·Yoplait Fiber One 50-calorie yogurt is available in the yogurt section of grocery stores nation-wide

To enter, visit the microsite above, and leave a comment. Once 50 people have entered, all supplies will be exhausted. I will then close the post. Thanks for stopping by, and Good Luck!

Disclaimer: Yoplait provided me with this opportunity, information, and product samples/coupons. The opinions expressed above are solely my own and yours may differ. Receiving a product will NEVER influence what I write in any review.

Review: ReUsies™ Snack Bag

2009-11-10T00:54:00.003-05:00

I'm trying to get more eco-friendly, by using chemical-free cleaners, recycling, and using less disposable plastic, so when I saw ReUsies™ Snack Bags on ChicExecs, I knew I had to try them!

About ReUsies™:

At the start of the new school year we realized that our families were going through an average of 10 plastic bags per day between school and work lunches. We do our best to reuse and recycle in other areas of our lives, but there didn’t seem to be a solution to the plastic sandwich bags we were using.

We developed ReUsies™ for their waste-free quality, but many customers primary reason for purchasing our product was to eliminate plastic from being in direct contact with their family’s food. Whatever your reason, know you have made a good choice!

We are Seattle moms with a passion to do right by our children, and hope that the footprint we leave behind for future generations will be much smaller. We take pride in our product and we hope you enjoy them too!

My thoughts:

I've used my ReUsies™ Snack Bag for myself and for my kids, and I hope to buy some more! They're a great way to pack a sandwich for anyone's lunch, without using plastic which harms the environment. It washes easily in the washing machine and dries in the dryer! You can even wash it in the dishwasher! We'll be using this for many years to come!

Disclaimer: I was sent the product named above to review. The opinions expressed above are solely my own and yours may differ. Receiving a product will NEVER influence what I write in any review.

another test... please ignore

2009-11-10T00:26:00.001-05:00

Disclaimer: I was sent the product named above to review. The opinions expressed above are solely my own and yours may differ. Receiving a product will NEVER influence what I write in any review.

Review: Jessie Steele Vintage Aprons

2009-11-09T23:09:00.006-05:00

I've never been an apron person, and I figured I'd better start. While browsing some samples at ChicExecs, I came across the cutest aprons! And I'm a sucker for Houndstooth, so I just HAD to request one!

Do you SEE how gorgeous this thing is?! Oh I'm in love!

Jessie Steele makes THE most gorgeous aprons! Hostess aprons, Chef's aprons, Children's aprons, as well as coordinating mitts and tea towels.

It's a feast for the eyes! (And the body!)

About Jessie Steele:

Jessie Steele's vintage-inspired, hostess and kitchen aprons prove true the old adage that beauty and style are timeless. Influenced by the romantic visions of a bygone era, and designed in vibrant colors, flirty patterns and figure flattering shapes, these fine quality, retro-chic cooking aprons make the perfect fashion accessory in or out of the kitchen.

Helena Steele had collected 20 th Century vintage aprons for years, enchanted by their amazing styles and nostalgic charm. These beautiful kitchen aprons symbolized the grace and beauty of a forgotten time. She visualized it was possible to preserve their heirloom characteristics while giving them a uniquely 21 st Century fit and appeal. It was time to re-focus on friends and family, and revive the fun of the "hostess" party.

Helena shared her vision with Claire Steele, her daughter, a former model and fashion expert. Helena proposed that they bring their talents together to create vintage aprons that would both reflect the retro whimsy of the 1940's and 50's and meet the challenging needs of today's woman. Claire enthusiastically agreed, and Jessie Steele fine hostess aprons was conceived.

After spending over a year researching and developing their plans, exploring a wide variety of fabrics and prints, designing their own textiles and finessing cuts and styles, Helena and Claire began manufacturing the Jessie Steele line of vintage kitchen aprons. These aprons are not only beautiful and feminine, they are designed to make the woman who wears them look and feel good.

This is a success story that has been born of true inspiration and hard work. Women of all ages and lifestyles have discovered the pleasure and fun of wearing Jessie Steele hostess aprons. Quite simply, Jessie Steele has taken the country by storm.

In the seven years since they've launched the niche of nostalgic apron fashion, Jessie Steele fine hostess aprons have been sold in over 3000 stores, appeared on such hit television shows as Oprah and Desperate Housewives, and have been featured in numerous national magazines and newspapers.

In addition to plans to expand the Jessie Steele product line, the company is currently in the process of finalizing a number of major development deals that will open up more markets, ensuring that Jessie Steele remains the number one name in heirloom quality hostess aprons for a very long time to come.

Here's a couple more of their gorgeous aprons:

Oh my!

My thoughts:

I feel like I'm transformed back in time while I'm wearing my beautiful new Houndstooth apron. Like I'm in the 50s, being a good wife, reading Good Housekeeping, while cooking dinner and cleaning the house. This apron is expertly made and is very fashionable. I am truly in love! I just may have to buy one (or two!) as Christmas gifts!

Disclaimer: I was sent the product named above to review. The opinions expressed above are solely my own and yours may differ. Receiving a product will NEVER influence what I write in any review.

Review: Alegria Footwear

2009-11-09T22:09:00.006-05:00

Recently, I was contacted to do a review of Alegria Footwear. I immediately was drawn to not only the looks of the shoe, but also the Technical Features of the shoes. Namely, the Rocker Outsole, which is engineered to roll naturally, reducing heel and central metatarsal pressure. Rocker outsole also encourages proper posture and normal gait.

Here are the shoes that I chose to review:

Aren't they cute?!

Alegria shoes offers a a wide variety of shoe types, from sandals to the Mary Jane-types that I received. They come in fun, funky colors. I admit, I had a hard time choosing a type that I wanted at first. I wanted a pair of shoes that I could wear with anything and still look good, so I chose the Paloma in Choco Croco. They remind me of Mary Janes and they're so cute!

About Alegria Shoes:

Alegria Shoes, maker of fun, fashionable footwear with feel-good features has appointed Sheri Poe to the position of Chief Marketing Executive Officer.

Poe, founder and CEO of Ryka athletic footwear and most recently CEO of MBT USA, brings to Alegria a wealth of expertise in the marketing and branding space with a heavy concentration on fashion and footwear. Poe plans to leverage her expertise in building a brand that marries fashion with function.

"In just 15 months the team here has been able to build a collection that utilizes colors and styling that just make you feel really good from the inside out," said Poe. "But what really sets them apart is the superior body benefits they offer at an affordable price which in today's economy is a critical factor in all purchasing. Even more amazing is that they've been able to grow the brand at an incredible rate during such tough economic conditions. "

The collection ranges from $89 to $109, suggested retail.

"We're delighted to welcome Sheri to the Alegria team," said Johnny Chen, CEO of Pepper Gate Footwear, which owns the Alegria brand. "What we've found is that those who try the shoes on, like Sheri did, become instant fans of the brand and with Sheri's help we're looking forward to introducing the brand to more dealers - and consumers - across the country and world-wide."

The Alegria brand promotes well-being and happiness from the outside- in. On the inside, Alegria's "Perfect Fit System" provides wearers with a custom fit every time they step into their shoes. On the outside, the brand offers a spectacular and unique blend of "collectable" colors and whimsical prints that inspires "happiness!"

The brands "Secret Weapon" includes:

The "Perfect Fit Footbed System" - an anatomically correct patented interlocking footbed system with arch support that is loaded with latex, memory foam and cork to create a "perfect fit" every time by forming to the natural contours of the foot, giving each user their own customized fit available in medium and wide widths.
Lightweight Mild Rocker Outsole - Engineered to roll naturally, the rocker outsole induces a normal walking motion while naturally toning leg muscles. It also benefits users by promoting a perfect posture, reducing stress on muscles, joints and back, giving you energy all day long.
Removable Insole - The heavily padded footbed is removable and allows insertion of custom orthodics.

After launching in the US the brand has added distribution in Canada, Israel, Croatia and Australia and is now opening up Austria, France, UK, Singapore and Japan.
Launched in Southern California in 2008 by Pepper Gate Footwear, a leading maker of therapeutic footwear, Alegria has become a place where happiness meets wellness. The brands "Color Therapy" uses colors and affordable fashion-forward styling to enhance your mood, while its unique Rocker Outsole delivers full-body benefits by minimizing stress on muscles, joints and backs for all day energy. To see what happy looks like please visit www.happylookslike.com

My thoughts:

These shoes are cute and are very comfortable to walk in. Originally, like all shoes, they HURT, but once I walked around in them for a few days I fell in love! I've noticed how I walk more with my shoulders back and my head held high! Even though some of the guys at work called these shoes my "Magic Shoes" - I don't care! These are great shoes!!!

Review: Disney Princess 5-in-1 Tasty Baker by Pop Art Toaster

2009-11-09T11:58:00.011-05:00

Recently, my daughter and I were sent a Princess 5-in-1 Tasty Baker by Pop Art Toaster.

Unfortunately, I didn't get any photos of us using this wonderful appliance, but I guarantee you that we had tons of fun, and it was definitely a learning experience!

We chose to make Blueberry muffins (a Betty Crocker mix in a pouch) in our Tasty Baker, and once we got the hang of it, the muffins turned out great! (By "got the hang of it", I mean that we learned by trial-by-error not to put so much mix into the molds! We also had to adjust the cooking time because I didn't read the directions!)

We had castle-shaped muffins and tiara-shaped muffins (as well as more!) and they were scrumptious!

About the Disney Princess 5-in-1 Tasty Baker:

*unique all-in-one table top appliance that will bake muffins, bread, cake, pancakes/waffles and brownies in the one compact unit
*Can also cook eggs!
*Bakes in one third the time
*6 kid friendly molds in one cooking plate. Includes: Tiara, Rose, Gown, Princess, and Castle shapes!
*Adjustable thermostat control
*Red “power on” indicator light
*Green “ready to bake indicator light
*Non-stick baking plate
*Cool touch housing
*Bonus Batter scoop and cleaning brush
*Instruction book with website link to recipes
Size of Tasty Baker: 4.5Hx8.5Wx10D"
Not for use with cookie dough

About Pop Art Toaster:

Linda Carlish, president of LC Premiums a 16 year old promotional merchandise company, is the inventor of the Pop Art Toaster. In 2003 while on a business trip in China, Linda visited a factory and saw a rickety toaster that toasted the image of a smile face onto bread. She thought it would be a great idea for the promotional industry to brand corporate logos onto bread. She spent 6 months redesigning the inner plate system and approached Target with the idea of imprinting their bull’s eye logo onto toast. They loved the idea and from there the toaster went on to win the New Product of the Year award at the January 2004 Promotional Products Association International trade show. Additional corporate clients include Fox TV, Trump Plaza and the New York Times.

The next step was to offer the toaster to consumers but give them a choice of images for their bread. Linda enlisted the help of her factory to again remodel the inside of the toaster to allow for interchangeable plates for which she now holds the U.S. patent. The toaster now branded the Pop Art Toaster™ and has 6 versions, including a licensed model for David and Goliath and a chrome version with a more upscale appearance that is sold for the hospitality and bridal market. There are 3 new licensed lines for Disney coming to DisneyShopping.com in 2008; Princess, Fairies and Mickey & Friends. In addition to toast, the Pop Art Toaster will toast frozen pancakes, toaster pastries, hamburger buns and flat bagels. For regular toasting without an image, simply remove the image plates and store away. The toasters themselves are retro style, high quality toasters with 7 heat settings; reheat, defrost and cancel buttons; and a slide-out crumb tray. They are available in a plastic housing in black, white, red and aqua and in chrome.

Soon after the initial models were released, Linda heard from moms who were cutting their children’s sandwiches into shapes with cookie cutters in order to make their kids eat. That inspired the birth of The Creativity Coloring Kit. This 14 piece set consisting of a Pop Art Toaster in white or black, 6 stencil art plates, a hook to remove the hot plates from the toaster, 5 edible, flavored markers to color on your toast (FDA approved), and a coloring book whose pictures correspond to the stencil plates is activity kit meets kitchen electrics. It’s a great way to keep children at the table by encouraging them to color their toast – or use regular markers to color in the coloring book. This set has also boosted healthier eating as the child is more apt to try wheat bread because it is fun. The Creativity Coloring Kit was recently presented with an Iparenting Media Award.

Just launched as a line extension is the 5-in-1 Tasty Baker™. The Tasty Baker is a unique all in one table top appliance with an adjustable thermostat that will bake your pancakes/waffles, muffins, bread, cake and brownies in just minutes. It can even cook eggs. You simply pour your batter into the molds, close the lid and your treats bake into bite size, kid friendly shapes: a dog, a cat, a train, a birthday cake, a smile face, a heart and blocks. A Disney version is coming soon with the shapes of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy and Pluto.

Fun recipes for the Pop Art Toaster™ and 5-in-1 Tasty Baker™ will be launched on our website in early November.

The products are available at Target.Com and specialty shops around the country with suggested retail prices from $24.99 - $49.99.

Our Thoughts:

My daughter always wants to help in the kitchen and this is an easy way to have her help with baking! Plus, it's easy cleanup, since all you have to do is wipe the plates down after use! Plus, I swear the items taste better because they're pretty Disney Princess shapes! We'll be using this for years to come, I'm sure!

As an added bonus, the kind people at Pop Art Toaster have offered to giveaway a Holiday Toaster! Head over to Santa's Picks to enter this (and many other!) giveaways!

That's not all! Pop Art Toaster has also offered a $5 coupon code: PAT0509, for any minimum purchase of $25 (before shipping/handling).

Disclaimer: I was sent the product named above to review. The opinions expressed above are solely my own and yours may differ. Receiving a product will NEVER influence what I write in any review.

Vote for me: 2010 Faces of e.l.f.

2009-11-08T20:18:00.001-05:00

I still need some votes for the 2010 Faces of e.l.f. contest. You can vote daily and you don't need to sign up to do so! I'd be forever indebted if you help me out!

$80 in Target Gift Cards being given away

2009-11-08T20:11:00.002-05:00

Over at Pays to be Frugal! Contest ends on 11/22 - see the site for specific entry rules.

Good luck!

Just one of those days...

2009-11-08T01:39:00.002-05:00

That a girl goes through.

Anyone know what I'm talking about?

Yes, the saying, but I'm also referencing the 90s Hit by Monica here. (Great song!)

As you've seen from my tweets, Facebook postings, and mentions here on my blog, I've been sick. My kids also. I don't FEEL "sick", except for the enlarged left lymph node that hurts and makes it hard to swallow, the sore throat, the slight cough, the weird tummy rumblies, the fatigue! And, oh, the headaches. I mean, I get headaches and migraines pretty often, but the ones I hate the most are the ones that hurt. all. day.

Yes.

I had a headache when I woke up and I've taken countless Excedrins and nothing has completely helped. I'm not sneezing, nor do I have a runny nose. I'm also not vomiting or having it at the other end...

Today, my daughter (yes, my lovely child with ADHD) decided today was THE best day ever (in true VH1 fashion) to mess with mommy.

She whined, cried, bothered her brother and his friend, ran around, yelled, laughed uncontrollably, and got yelled at 4000 times in just under 14 hours.

It's good that she's my child, and that she's cute.

I love my kids but they are testing me. Tomorrow I'm pulling out all the stops. They just don't know it yet.

Submit it Sunday - 11/08/09

2009-11-08T01:29:00.002-05:00

I've been bad, I know... I haven't posted one of these in awhile. And you all are probably counting on me and I let you down. *sigh*

I can only try to do better. :D

It's Submit it Sunday! Link up your giveaways, posts, whatever you want to share! And come back next week to link up again!

Be sure to enter all of my giveaways (listed in the left sidebar!)! Most are ending soon!

Also remember that the event I'm involved with with Kim Kihega and Angie Knutson starts tomorrow at Santa's Picks.

Did you remember to grab the button for that?

Your Astrology Guide 2010: Rick and Jeff's Tips for the Year

2009-11-06T16:02:00.003-05:00

Your Astrology Guide 2010: Rick and Jeff's Tips for the Year
by Rick Levine & Jeff Jawer,
Authors of Your Astrology Guide 2010,

ARIES
March 21-April 19

Conscious Self-Restraint
It's imperative that you cut back your activities, for effective pruning allows new growth to flourish. But you may bump into deeply rooted resistances as you attempt to play a larger role on the stage of life. The contradiction now is that you are at your most brilliant and nothing can hold you back, yet paradoxically the walls of reality continue to close in. You cannot get away with shooting from the hip, even if you're confident of your aim. The full enterprising power of Aries is yours when you accept the limits of society that require more precision this year. Whether you like it or not, you must slow down to get what you want.

TAURUS
April 20-May 20

Look Outside the Box
Your potential to transform your life is incredible this year -- but your resistance to change is equally great. You don't have to tear apart what's working well or take crazy risks that are likely to fail. All you need to do is stretch your boundaries and allow alternative perspectives to hang around for a while to see if one might eventually fit. It's as if a strange visitor has arrived at your door -- so strange you'd prefer him to leave as soon as he arrives. But thanks to your kind heart, you let him stay the night . . . and end up discovering a close friend. Similarly, you will find happiness this year as long as you remain open to surprises.

GEMINI
May 21-June 20

Fear Not the Darkness
You can no longer be the champion of avoidance, Gemini, and that means you're playing in a whole new ball game. If others accuse you of being shallow, it's just because they don't understand how fast your mind works and how it jumps from one thought to the next. Now, However, something has changed, and it may at first seem scary. Instead of planning your escape routes, you are content, even eager, to search for hidden metaphysical wealth that was previously obscured from the light of consciousness. Overcoming your own resistance to fully feeling your emotions enables you to uncover buried treasure that can enrich your life for many years to come.

CANCER
June 21-July 22

Aim for the Top
It's better to be ambitious this year and struggle in the pursuit of your goals than to passively respond to whatever life brings you. Even if you run into obstacles, meet them on a course of your own choosing. Taking charge and pushing forward -- sometimes awkwardly and sometimes with grace and confidence -- are the next steps to assuming a leadership role. Your power and passion grow when you have strong allies and adversaries. Seek out those with talents you admire so that you can learn from the best. Step outside your comfort zone; you'll discover that it's not foolish to take risks. There are enormous rewards when you invest in your own excellence.
LEO
July 23-August 22

Ask for Help
You expect great things from yourself, Leo, and you can work quite hard once you make a sincere commitment. This is why you must now think carefully about any promises you make -- to yourself or anyone else. There are powerful forces at play that can lure you into believing that anything is possible. It's true that this year brings great potential, but exhausting yourself trying to achieve the impossible dream is not a sensible strategy. Heed the counsel of wise friends and seasoned professionals before making any life-changing decisions.

VIRGO
August 23-September 22

Fearless Warrior
Challenges to the core truths you cling to can be a source of irritation and a cause of physical, mental, and emotional fatigue. The battles you face, though, are not with outside forces but within yourself. It's time to reexamine the ideas that have kept your life in order for years, but may be holding you back. What worked in the past won't necessarily be effective now. The desire to return to familiar places in your mind is understandable, but it's not likely to be productive. Certainly, you need times to retreat and take refuge in comfortable concepts. Catch your breath when you can, yet remember: You'll grow much stronger by moving ahead than by turning back.

LIBRA
September 23-October 22

Rise to the Challenge
Although relationships can offer you a newfound sense of freedom this year, they can also distract you from the discipline you need to organize your life. The decisions you must make this year are not easy ones. You may have to be ruthless when evaluating what and who should be cut out of your life, but pruning is absolutely required to ensure maximum growth. Your overall success during the coming years will be based on your ability to pay careful attention to your long-term goals rather than short-term successes.

SCORPIO
October 23-November 21

Innocent Expression
Looking foolish is not your idea of a good time, but giving yourself permission to express yourself freely can be extremely rewarding now. Surrendering some self-control to reveal your emotion can feel risky, of course, but it's a great way to open your heart and enhance your creativity. Making mistakes is not the road to failure but the laboratory of invention. You can surprise yourself by discovering new talents when you put away the heavy hammer of self-criticism. Being honest while also being kind is a gift to yourself and those around you. If your explorations veer off course and threaten your stability, seek wise counsel. There are angels around you who look like ordinary people, yet will gently guide you back on track.

SAGITTARIUS
November 22-December 21

Be Here Now
There is so much work ahead as you strive to make the most of your future. Running out on previous commitments won't bring you happiness; delivering on your promises will. Try not to seek adventure in the same old dreams of world travel. This year, you can take an incredible journey of the mind without leaving home. Open yourself to new philosophies, learn about new technologies, and re-create your future by being more conscious in the present moment.

CAPRICORN
December 22-January 19

Field of Dreams
Your journey this year could be one of extremes as the most visionary planets -- Jupiter and Uranus -- light up your life with exciting new perceptions while the most conservative ones -- Saturn and Pluto -- keep stepping in to turn down the volume of your enthusiasm. You can avoid bouncing from high hopes to deep disappointment by giving yourself time to assimilate and consider your dreams. Slowly roll them over in your mind, do some research, and talk to those you trust to help you find ways to shape them into reality. Then commit to work with patience and persistence. Remember, conceiving a brilliant idea happens in an instant, but giving birth to success takes a lot longer.

AQUARIUS
January 20-February 18

The Joy of Sharing
The emotional heights will be higher this year and the descents lower, yet you must fully experience these peaks and valleys if you hope to find a middle ground between the opposing forces pushing and pulling on you. Although you cannot avoid the changes that continue to unfold, you're also blessed with an open mind that eagerly looks beyond the current difficulties. Don't waste too much energy resisting the inevitable. Instead, focus on the exhilaration you'll feel once you've overcome the obstacles and your life is heading in a new direction.

PISCES
February 19-March 20

Go the Distance
The highs and lows you experience this year accentuate the contrast between your greatest hopes and darkest fears. Expansive Jupiter in your sign makes your life seem so big that even the smallest act can appear to take on enormous importance. You may be exhilarated by this wild ride at times, but in the end it can be exhausting and confusing to rise so quickly and fall so fast only to rise again. Moderating your reactions with a bit of philosophical detachment reminds you that the current drama is just one moment in a life rich with experiences that you've encountered before and will likely meet again.

The above is an excerpt from the book Your Astrology Guide 2010 by Rick Levine & Jeff Jawer. The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.

Copyright © 2009 Rick Levine & Jeff Jawer, authors of Your Astrology Guide 2010, (Sterling, July 2009).

Author Bios
Highly-respected astrologers, sought-after consultants, and frequent lecturers, Rick Levine and Jeff Jawer have each written countless magazine articles, authored several books, and have been featured on radio and TV programs throughout the United States and Europe.

Rick Levine, co-author of Your Astrology Guide 2010, writes Tarot.com's daily horoscopes, which can be seen on AOL.com and many other Web sites. He is the founding trustee of the Kepler College for Astrological Arts and Sciences, a four-year educational institution in Seattle, WA, where he lives.

Jeff Jawer, co-author of Your Astrology Guide 2010, writes weekly romance horoscopes for Tarot.com and AOL.com and was a longtime columnist for cosmogirl.com. He is a co-founder of the Association for Astrological Networking and the United Astrology Congress. He lives in Redmond, WA.

For more information, please visit stariq.com.

Ghost Adventures returns

2009-11-06T15:13:00.002-05:00

Ghost Adventures is BACK!

Zak, Nick, and Aaron will be at Pennhurst State, a school for the developmentally disabled, which was forced to close its doors in 1987 after numerous, heart-wrenching allegations of abuse and neglect.

Catch the episode premiere Friday at 9 PM E/P on the Travel Channel. "Ghost Adventures Live Postmortem," a recap of last week's live event, will air at 8pm before the new episode. Below are episode details and some video links:

Pennhurst State became infamous in the 1980s when word spread about the despicable conditions in which the patients were forced to live. Pennhurst was home to more than 3,000 mentally challenged, mentally disabled, and developmentally disabled patients. There are countless claims of abuse. This partly because while the local zoo was spending $7.15 on their animals per day on their wards, Pennhurst could only afford $5.90.

When Zak asks Dr. James Conroy (Co-President of Pennhurst Memorial) if there was ever sexual abuse at the school. Dr. Conroy replies, "Absolutely. Constantly. Every night."

While the school was opened, there was a deafening sound from thousands of patients screaming. Today the sound of those screams has been replaced with a skin tingling silence. Needless to say, there is enough dark energy in this place to make your hair stand on end.

Check out these previews:

Tune in to see Ghost Adventures - Pennhurst: Friday, November 6th, at 9 E/P on Travel Channel.
Be sure to also watch Ghost Adventures Live Postmortem: Friday, November 6th, at 8 E/P on Travel Channel.

Winner Announced: WAT-AAH!

2009-11-06T09:59:00.003-05:00

At least for this giveaway I'm choosing the winner ON TIME! (LOL)

The winner of the WAT-AAH! giveaway, as determined by Random.org is:

#2!!!

Who is:

Congratulations Amanda! I'm emailing you now! Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen!

Thanks to all for entering!

Winners Announced - Bed Bouquet

2009-11-06T09:25:00.003-05:00

I've been sick so I apologize for my lateness on the drawing for the following winners.

As you see above, #s 6 and 25 won the Bed Bouquet giveaway - that means that the following people won:

Congrats Karry and Peggy! I'm emailing you now. You have 48 hours to respond or new winners will have to be chosen.

Thanks to all for entering!

Christmas 2009 at 5 Minutes for Mom has begun!

2009-11-06T08:42:00.002-05:00

It's that time of year again! 5 Minutes for Mom has kicked off their annual Christmas giveaways! Head over to their Christmas 2009 post to find out more information, and to grab the Christmas 2009 button codes!

I also urge you to check out their Under the Tree 2009 Program for Families in Need. You can nominate a family who can't provide presents for their children this year!

I bought a really cool closet-organizing kit at Amazon for CHEAP to get more organized! #win5000

2009-11-06T08:31:00.001-05:00

Make a Proclamation and be entered to win $5,000 to pursue your dream! Enter daily and bring friends to increase your chances of winning. There are weekly prizes too. No purchase necessary.

View >>

Wordless Wednesday - Halloween 2009

2009-11-04T10:32:00.002-05:00

Here's our Halloween Pics:

Children’s Defense Fund Stroller Brigade

2009-11-02T18:40:00.003-05:00

On behalf of Momfluence, I'm sharing this important information with you:

From the Children’s Defense (www.childrensdefense.org) website:

Join Us In Standing Together for Children: Congress is debating health reform legislation that could leave millions of children worse rather than better off and fails to fix bureaucratic, unfair barriers to care. This must be changed now!

What We Are Demanding: Congress and the President must support changes that provide comprehensive, affordable, accessible care for all children no matter where they live. Changes must build on what works in the system and fix what doesn’t work for children now.

Actions You Can Take: Join children, parents, grandparents and champions for children in a "stroll" to the Nation's Capitol on November 4 or join stroller brigades in cities across the country November 5 through 8 to ensure that our children are not left behind in health care reform. Can't join a stroller brigade in-person? You can also participate in our Virtual Stroller Brigade!

Important Dates and Links:

- November 4th: The Stroller Brigade campaign kicks off in the DC and readers in the DC area can sign up here - http://www.childrensdefense.org/helping-americas-children/childrens-health/health-coverage-for-all-children-campaign/stroller-brigade/join-stroller-brigade/washington-dc.html

- November 5th through 8th: The Stroller Brigade will travel around the country. Readers can find a location near them here - http://www.childrensdefense.org/helping-americas-children/childrens-health/health-coverage-for-all-children-campaign/stroller-brigade/join-stroller-brigade.html

- Readers can create a Stroller Brigade in their own neighborhood here: http://www.childrensdefense.org/helping-americas-children/childrens-health/health-coverage-for-all-children-campaign/stroller-brigade/create-your-own-stroller-brigade.html

- Readers who do not want to join a Stroller Brigade can help by contacting their member of Congress, spreading the word about the campaign, and sharing their own story: http://www.childrensdefense.org/helping-americas-children/childrens-health/health-coverage-for-all-children-campaign/stroller-brigade/take-action.html

- Fact sheets and more: http://www.childrensdefense.org/helping-americas-children/childrens-health/health-coverage-for-all-children-campaign/stroller-brigade/toolkit.html

- The Stroller Brigade in the news: http://www.childrensdefense.org/helping-americas-children/childrens-health/health-coverage-for-all-children-campaign/stroller-brigade/news.html

There is also a Twitter Blogger Press Conference Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. EST w/ the hashtag #strollerbrigade and we’d love to see you all there! We will be chatting with a director from the Children’s Defense fund. RSVP and learn more here.

Join Snapfish and get 50 FREE Halloween prints

2009-10-31T12:40:00.002-04:00

I love Snapfish! It's great for sharing photos and for storing photos. And I should know - I have photos stored all over the web: Snapfish, Flickr, Photobucket, MySpace, Facebook, and my personal fave, Photoshop Live.

Right now, until November 8th, if you join Snapfish, you'll get 50 FREE 4X6 prints. This is great for those Halloween photos we'll be taking today!!!

Plus, you can pick up Snapfish photos at Walgreen's, Walmart, Meijer, and more!!!

Oh, and Ebates has TONS of coupons codes for Snapfish products, so sign up for Ebates to get 10% cash back on all Snapfish services!

Inkubook Buy One, Get One Half-off deal

2009-10-31T12:33:00.002-04:00

Have you heard of Inkubook? I heard about it about a year or so ago, but haven't used their services yet.

I guess with all the printing deals that are going on on the web as of late, all of the companies are trying to keep up with the other's deals. (I'll be posting about some of these deals today also.)

Right now through November 3rd, if you order a photo book through Inkubook, you'll get a 2nd copy of the same book for half price.

These look like great books too!

Inkubook also offers free shipping deals too - once you join the site, you'll start to get emails on their deals.

I just scored a great deal at JCPenney's

2009-10-31T12:16:00.003-04:00

You may have seen this deal around the internet recently, that you could get $10 off of a $10 purchase at JCPenney's using the code "SWEETS4U" - which ends today - you may still have time to use it - I just used it this morning!

I used my Ebates account to get 3% back on my purchase which will go directly into my PayPal account. (Don't have a PayPal account? Click the link to sign up - it's easy and FREE!)

Anyway, I'm ecstatic about my deal I just scored at JCPenney - I used the $10 off code and I bought a shirt already on sale! I ended up saving $28.01 as you see above!

Here's a pic of the shirt I bought:

Isn't it cute!? I can't wait till it comes!!!